Stock no 700 178

A late Victorian mahogany secretaire Wellington chest by *James Shoolbred of London. The 3rd and 4th drawers down pull forward and open to reveal an interior with a tooled leather writing surface, pigeon-holes and 2 birds eye maple veneered drawers flanked to either side by carved acanthus leaf capitals.

24”w x 47”h x 17"d 61cm w x 119cm h x 43cm d

*stamped to top drawer

Circa 1880

£1,485

J Shoolbred & Co. London
(1820 – 1931)

James Shoolbred and Co. (aka Jas Shoolbred) were established during the Regency period of the 1820’s. Originally a drapers supplying the furniture trade they became part of it when, sometime around 1860, they started manufacturing and selling furniture to their own designs; Noted for a sophisticated aesthetic look, their pieces often referenced Regency interpretations of Greek and Roman antiquity.

Gaining a reputation for high quality furniture, their catalogues featured complimentary products and room sets and became as much a guide to good taste for the Victorian home, as a sales catalogue. Such was the success that by the 1880’s, Shoolbred had opened the City’s first large department store on Tottenham Court Road, London.
In the mid 1880’s Schoolbred was granted a Royal Warrant, testament to the quality of their furniture.
They ceased trading in 1931 following the financial depression of the 1920’s.

"London Fine Art"

BACK